High-pressure four-way valve



Feb.l24, 1948. A. v. FIORTTA' 2,436,425

HIGH PRESSURE FOUR-WAY VALVE Feb. Z4, 1948. A. v. FIORETTA 2,436,425

HIGH PRESSURE. FOUR-WAY VALVE Filed sept. 18, '1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 IHHIIHII" UIIIIIIIH" 70% ,477-0 Ney.

Patented Feb. 24, 1948 U N I TE D S fPATFEN T 10 FF "Ir-.C 2;@6425 LHIGH-*PRESSURE FOUR-WAY V"YAI'E Alexander V. Fiore'tta, West Los Angeles, Calif. Applicationrseptember, 1943, Serial-No.l50243 sonnes. (o1. en -29) This invention relatesv generally `to -valves, -a'nd more particularly to valvesrof the .type compris.- ing a bank of .puppet .valves arranged typically for four-way operation .bymeansof a single-op.- erating member.

The general purposeofthe present inventionzis to provide aprecision control valve :adapted-.for handling hydraulic control liquids, such Ias Ethe specialgrades of oilsnow inuse for such-purpose, under comparatively highpressure, such as 'being used in modern hydraulic control systems. .'lypif cal applications of such-valves are `found' in l'the hydraulic vcontrol systems -of modern aircraft, used for such :purposes as movement offcontrol surfaces, -release .of bombs, etc.

The requirements .in such .service .are most exacting, notonly because of the high pressures used and the .attendant sealing. problems, but be.- cause of the precision-:and infallibility withwhich the systemmust operate.

A particular object of the'invention is .theprovision of a sturdy .and trustworthy hydraulictcontrol valve of the class mentioned, Whichnot'. only possesses thequalities requisite tothe-serviceor which it is intended, but alsoaisrelatively `simple and inexpensive inconstructionVas wellas light in Weight.

The invention is? herein. exemplied'by larrillustrative four-Way valve shown .inathe dra-wings, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is'an endelevaticnofthevalve;

Fig. 2 is a section -on 1ine 2+2 of Fig. lshowing the valve in closed-position;

Fig. 3 isaviewsimilar-.toilig I2but:showing the valve in an operating position foronedirection of liquid flow;

Figs. 4 and 5 aresectionsonflines 4.-.4. andai-i5,

respectively, yof Fig. l2, ,the -poppet .valves xbeing omitted;

Figs.:6 to 9 are detail 'sectionstakenmn lines B- tog-9, respectively, on'Fig.-2.

The illustrative valve :shown in -the drawings is of a four-.Way type, designedito permita-application andrelease of uidfpressure.simultaneously to and from. opposite sides of, :for instancelacontrol piston, or to permitapplic'ation of vflui' :l.pr.es sure to one controlpiston andto relieveapplica.- tion of uidzpressure from another. Froma description of such-a particular .applicationof'my invention, the broader Ifeatures thereof wilLreadily be gathered, and.. it .will be freadilyunderstood how myinventionlmayibe applied in other analo gous situations.

In the description-:and incertain instancesain the c1aims,-I.fwi11-ifefer to-:theftop,ffront,.and:back

-Z sides of the "valve,-fand to .certa-in .horizontal-zand vertical bores. It is of lcourse to be understood that Mthis `.is for convenience of description and denitiononly. and not in any way limitative on the invention,- since the nshed valve-,may cbviously befturned into any -position in serv-ice.

-In v:constructing the valve .of v the invention, tl

preferably provide a valve body -in :the `forrnaf a rectangular block Illof vrelatively lightimeiiftl., as aluminum. -A series .Qtfouraligned parallel bores .-IfI, I,2,`I3.and I4 Varedrilled downwardly in this rvalveblock,para1lelto its frontface. YBorges I Iand .I extendv downwardlyapproximatelygh f the depthfoffthe bloclnand are continued-bygrels,

atively reduced bores -I;I -Vand I4', whichgzare turnl continued iby further Areduced bores I; I f and I4", respectively. The Abores ,I2-and I,3,;on the' other h-and, extend downwardly in block :IAIJgon'ly approximately. one-third ofthe depth of the hlQQk. andvthere meet with and are continued bye-ire.- ducedbores ,'I2 and I3' .which are fin `turn con, tinued by further reduced bores L2 and-L31' respectively. The reduced bores lI I -to I4fin tersect abore Iidrilledhhorizontally into Orletllg ofthe block llland` extending nearly-to thefgther endt-hereof. :The axes offthe vboresil to I4 pref,- erably intersect, or nearly intersectathe axis cfg-the bore I 5,;and the'bore I kis preferably alittle larger indiameter than thebores I -I and I4. Asghvere shown, Y the f bores I2 and I3 ,are a little lesser in diameter than thevbores ;l I and I4, thQuah this is k.of no particular,.sigmance- Horizontal-bores I Iand I'I aredrilled into the front .face of the block .ilpat approximately hal-i the height of the ,'blocl, ,and the i spacings and diameters aresuoh that the bore l I overlaps-and Sunkiintothe backaceof -theyblockvlll are fourY threaded-sockets@toi to receivefthe threaded coupling members of .externalghydraulic lines, not' shown. .Of these,socket .12.0 isnbetvveen and at tinued Linvvardly by af horizontal reduced 1 bore 25 which: intersects bores1l2 and |13. Socket V2l r'is b.elow.socket:20,pand .is Acontinued linwardly by la.

reduced=bore;.2;5 a which passes between bores I2" and I3", and intersects horizontal bore I5. The

two lsockets .2,2 yand sare :located .vertically iat 3 about half the height of the block, and are continued inwardly by reduced bores 26 and 21, respectively, which intersect bores II and I4, respectively.

Bores II to I4 are closed at the top by means of a. top or head plate 30 securely fastened down to the block by Vmeans of relatively heavy screws 3I. Intake poppet valves 35 and 36 are slidably mounted in valve bores I2 and I3, respectively. Preferably, these poppet valve elements are formed of a relatively softer and lighter material than the metal valve body ID, and in the present instance they are composed of a molded plastic. Each of the valves 35 and 36 has a tapered or conical base portion 31, which is adapted to seat on a conical seat 38 formed at the junctures of the valve bores I2 and I3 with reduced bores i2' and I3', respectively. These valve seats thus divide'the valve bores or chambers I2, I2' and I3, I3' into upper and lower portions. Above base 31 each of the poppet valve elements has an open topped cage 39 adapted to receive the lower end of a coil compression spring 4U. The upper end of each of the springs engages the lower side of a cylindrical or disc-like head 4I located in the upper end of the valve bore and positioned by means of an upwardly projecting stud 42 received in a socket 43 sunk in the under face of cover plate'SI. The upper end of the spring 4i) encrcles and is positioned by a stud 44 projecting downwardly from head 4 I. The periphery of head 4I vis formed with a circumferential groove receiving a rubber O-ring 46 for the purpose of sealing the upper end of the valve bore against the high pressure of the hydraulic liquid. Other sealing means may of course be provided, though that suggested is simple and effective.

The conical base 3l of the two intake poppet valves engage the upper ends of reduced stems 50 extending upwardly from valve stems or plungers I and 52 slidably fitted within the bores i2" and I3", respectively. For-the purpose of sealing the lower ends of the bores I2 and I3 against downward leakage of high pressure hydraulic liquid, each of the plungers 5I is here shown as formed with a circumferential grooveV fitted with a rubber O-ring 54.

4 taneously operated by means of a single operating member in the form of a cam shaft 80 rotatively mounted within the afore-Inentioned horizontal bore I5. This cam shaft 80 has a reduced extension 8l projecting from the end of the bore I5, a shoulder 82 being afforded on the shaft flush with the side of the block I0 and being engaged by a retainer plate 83 secured to the side of block IQ as by meansof screws 84, An operating arm 85 clamped onto cam shaft extension 8| serves as an external operating member for the valve. Within the block I, cam shaft 8b has at its two ends cylindrical head portions 83 and 8l rotat- 'ably fitted within the bore I5, head 86 at the open end of the bore I5 being provided with a sealing means preferably in the form of a rubber O-ring .89 tted into a cylindrical circumferential groove in said head. In line with successive valve stems 65, 5I, 52 and 65 are separate cams 94 to 91 of Slidably fitted within the valve bores II and l I4 are exhaust poppet valves 60 and 6I respectively, and as in the case of intake valves 35 and 36, these are preferably constructed of a relatively soft and light material as a suitable molded plastic. vEach of these exhaust valves is formed with a downwardly tapering or conical portion 62 adapted for seating engagement with a conical seat 63 formed at the junctures of the valve bores II and I4 with reduced bores II and I4', respectively. 'I'hese valve seats thus divide the valve bores or chambers Il, II and I4, i4 into upper and lower portions. Extending downwardly from the conical valve portions 52, and slidably fitting within the respective reduced bores II" and I4, are longitudinal ns 64 formed on slender valve stems 55 and 65. These ns 64 dene liquid passageways leading downwardly to the bore I5.

The upper portions of the valves 63 and Si are formed as open-topped cages 1I) having enlarged beads 10a at their upper ends which are slidably fitted within the bores II and I4. These cages receive the lower ends of compression springs 'i I,

the upper ends of which engage spring positionthis cam shaft.

These four cams are interconnected by three substantially semicylindric bearing portions 98 which have rotational bearing in the bore l5, and which in normal position (Fig. 2) face downwardly. As will be observed from the drawings, the cams 34 to 31 are dened in part by convex faces which extend in continuation of the semicylindric faces of the bearing portions 98, and in part by convex actuating surfaces 99. As appears in Figs. 6-9, the cams project alternately in opposite directions fromV the central axis of the cam shaft, In the specic embodiment here shown, the cams 94 and 96 extend from points adjacent one edge of the semicylindric bearing portions 38 to substantially the midpoints ofthe downwardly facing semicylindric faces thereof, and the cams 95 and 91 extend from points adjacent the opposite edges 0f the portions 98 to substantially the midpoints of said semicylindric faces. The cam shaft being assumed to be in the valve-closed portion of Figs. 2 and 6-9, the semicylindric bearing portions 98 are down, with their diametrical surfaces horizontal; and the cams are in the positions illustrated, with their respective operating surfaces in engagement with the valve stems 5I, 52, 65 and 65. The valves are at such time all seated.

It will now be evident that rotation of the cam shaft a quarter turn in one direction will elevate two of the cams, either 94 and 9G, or 35 and 91, depending upon the direction of rotation, and will merely shift the remaining two cams from one side to the other of the bore I5. The two elevated cams lift one of the intake valve plungers 5I or 52 and one of the exhaust valve stems 65 or 66; as shown in Fig. 3, intake valve 35 and exhaust valve 6I have thus been elevated and unseated. At such time, high pressure liquid entering via passageway 25 flows downwardly in bore I2 past elevated intake valve 35, thence across via the port afforded by bore I6 to valve bore II, and from there leaves via the valve block passageway 25 (see Fig. 5). This high pressure liquid may go, for instance, to one end of a cylinder containing a work piston, not necessary here to illustrate. From the other end of such a cylinder, liquid will at the same time be exhausted and such liquid is conveyed back to passageway 2l in the valve block (see Fig. 5) whence it iiows to valve bore I4, and then downwardly past the unseated valve 6I via the passageway dened by the guide ribs or ns E4 to the cam shaft bore I5. Within the latter, the liquid flows to outlet passageway 25a, whence it is discharged to the low pressure discharge line, not shown. During such.

perationfithevalvesfi:andremain-necessarily seated, soasfto @prevent Thigh;:pressureV liquid mow directly @from theunseated intake waives: 315 fpast valve :En .to .cam '.shat vhere t5, fasiwell; as:` to :prevent. high '.pressurevliquidzrom; owing past intake vvalvev 36, `fandathenee..lhiz-teral-ly..to and idown- Wardly past fthe .runseated lexhaust evalve :16| Lto camshaft bore 11:5. Rotationm-:the .cam .shaft a quarter .turn in.fthe.f.opposite .gdirectionafrom vthe position of Fig. t2 ofrcourseifleave :valves :35 an'dlGI .-seated, :andnwillumseait fva'lves. 36 yiand Bil, andin ,thisy positionrofrfthe valves -.a'.=liquid circulation similar tosthatpreviously n described but inthe reverse direction-with wespectfto ,the .work

cylinder `vwill be :accomplished The valve as :nowidescribed will be seen :to be 'characterized by simplicity :of construction, sturdiness, andease eandvaprecisien @of operation. The poppet valves, being .of p'lasticy construction, cannot wear `the permanent seats 1 .in the --.valve, and they'y areeasilyreplaceable when'they become worn. For this purpose, :it'QisoHly `necessary to remove the head-spiate, whereupon the upper V,ends of the valve :bores :aref-iexposed `:andthe poppet valves can be vremoved `and replaced, Yit 'not Vbeing required Yto ydisconnect the external hydraulic lines. This --in-itselfis anfad-vantage :of considerable moment. 'Iihe'sspeciflc-fembodimen-t of ithe invention vhere .shown -Iiorviillustrative purposes will of course be understood `to`be f-merel-y illustrativein nature and not .restrictive on the invention, various changes in design, structure and arrangement being possible lwithout departing from the spirit and scope of 4the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a valve assembly',fthe combination of a substantially rectangular valgveiblock formedwith two adjacent parallelintake walvebores and two exhaust .val-.veI boresoutsideofiandfparallel tosaid intake valve bores,.,a11.arrauged;in `a row parallel to the front f aceoithe ,valvetblock and all being drilled downwardly intorthertop of said block, :a head plate Asecuredto .,the'aop .ofisaid blockA and closing the upnerendsof said-bores, an upwardly facing valveiseat .fora poppet-valve around each of said bores dividing ,said ,bores into upper portions and reduced lower portions, the valve seats in the intake valve bores-being at a higher level than the-valve seats-inf-the .exhaust valvebores, spring-actuated poppet valves in said bores adapted to seat on said valve seats, a cam shaft bore below and in alignment with said valve bores, guide openings extending from the lower ends of said valve bores to said cam shaft bore, valve actuating stems associated with the intake valves extending with hydraulic sealing t through the guide openings leading from the intake valve bores and projecting into the cam shaft bore, valve actuating stems associated with the exhaust valves extending with liquid iiow clearance through the guide openings leading from the exhaust valve bores and projecting into the cam shaft bore, a cam shaft in said cam shaft bore having individual cams for said valve stems adapted when in one position to allow all of the cams to seat, when rotated in one direction from said position to unseat one intake valve and the nonadjacent exhaust valve, and when rotated in the other direction from said position, to unseat the other intake and exhaust valves, a liquid inlet bore drilled horizontally into said block from the back face thereof and extending between the upper portions of said intake valve bores and intersecting and opening into the sides thereof, a

horizontalibore,ipluggediat disputer into the .block imm @the :trent iaee'ithereo he tweenthe lower portion; ofieachintake Y:valve here and the upper portion ".'ofathe adjacent exhaust valve bore soas .toeintersec-.t andaopen intofrthe sides of said portions of.- said;bores;iand,establish communication therebetween, .liquidiboresdrilled into the blookirom,.theibacksfacethereof and. intersecting the upper .portions l,ci the exhaust valve bores andfa iliq'uid, passageway in' 'the` valve block leading iromihecam Shaftfboremand open ing externally o'f sadbIQQK.

2. 'In a valve assemblyythe combination of a valve block formed with two adj acent'intakevalve chambers andtwo eXhaustvalve chambers outside ofsaid .intake valvegchambersall of said chambers beingarranged.jinline with one another and extendngl'from `onejiaceof.said block to adjacent the oppostefacejthereoi, a valve Seat for a' poppet valve .arourideaehofsaid chambers dividing said y.cha.rnbersginto upperL andlower portions, the valve .seatsuin 'fthe `'l'uitake ,vilve chambers Abeing at lalhigheri level 'than the-valve seats in ,the exhaust valve chambers, ,poppet valves in said chambers. adaptedtto :seat .onsaid valve seats, a rcam vshaft1lo.Oirebeloil/ arilnlalignment with said valvechambersfbores.extending fromV the .lower .ends .ofsaid .valve .chambers-1w said cam shaft bore, .valve-actuating stemsassociated with the intake valves. extending Withfhydraulic sealing .t through'theybores leadingrom the intake valve .Chambers anld projecting finto thecam shaft bore, valve actuating stemsassociated with the .exhaust .valves extending .with liquid liiow ,clearanceithrough 'thebores "leading from the exhaust valve- 'cham'bersand ,projecting into the @am Shaftbore. a camsha'it in ,saildam shaft bore having individual cams "for said valve stems, an `inletbore Vdrilled in said "block perpendicularly tosaid valve `chambers .and inter-i secting and communicating with'the ,upper portions of saidin'take valve chambers, 4a pair of bores drilled in 'saidblock perpendicularly :to said valve chambersandeach intersecting and communicatingwith the 'lowerportion of one inta-ke valve ohamberand :the upper portion of the adjacent exhaust valve chamber, a pair oil' passages extendingperpendicularly to said valve chambers and each' connecting the upper ,por tion of one exhaust valve chamber to :the eX- ternal surfaceof sa'i'd valve block, an exhaust passage perpendicular to and intersecting said cam shaft bore and opening externally of said valve block, springs in said chambers having inner ends engaging said valves to urge the same into fluid sealing engagement with said valve seats, removable spring seats in said chambers engaging the outer ends of said springs, fluid sealing means disposed between the peripherles of said spring seats and the walls of said chambers to form uid tight seals for the outer ends of said chambers, and a cover plate secured to such one block face and engaging said spring seats to retain the same in fluid sealing engagement with said chambers.

3. In a valve assembly, the combination of a valve block formed with two adjacent intake valve chambers and two exhaust valve chambers outside of said intake valve chambers, all of said chambers being arranged in line with one another and extending from one face of said block to adjacent the opposite face thereof, a valve seat for a poppet valve around each of said chambers dividing said chambers into upper and lower portions, poppet valves in `said tight sealsl for the outer ends of saldachambers,

and a cover plate 'secured to such one block face and engaging said spring seats to retain the same" in fluid sealing engagement with said chambers.: U4. In a'valve assembly, the combination of'aI valve block formed with two adjacent intake valve chambers and two exhaust valve chambers outside of said intake valve chambers, all of said chambers being arranged in line with one another and extending from one face of said block to adjacent the opposite face thereof, a valve seat for a poppet valve around each of said chambers dividing said chambers into upper and lower portions, the valve seats in the intake valve chambers being at a higher level than the valve seats in the exhaust valve chambers, spring-actuated poppet valves in said chambers adapted to seat on said valve seats, a cam shaft bore below and in alignment with said valve chambers, bores extending 4lfrom the lower ends of said valve chambers to said cam shaft bore, valve-actuating stems associated with the intake valves extending with hydraulic sealing'iit through the bores leading from the intake valve chambers and projecting intothe cam shaft bore, valve actuating stems associated with the exhaust valves extending with liquid ilow clearance through the bores leading from the exhaust valve chambers and projecting into the: cam shaft bore, a cam shaft in said cam shaft bore having individual cams for said valve stems, a pair of passages extending perpendicularly to said valve chambers and each connecting the upper portion of one exhaust valve chamber to the external surface of said valve block, an inlet bore drilled into said valve block perpendicular to and substantially centrally between the upper portions of said intake valve chambers. said bore having a diameter greater than the distance between said intake valve chamber upper portions whereby said bore intersects both intake valve chamber upper portions, a pair of bores,l drilled intoy said valve block, each perpendicular to and substantially centrally between the lowerv portion of one intake valve chamber and the'upper portion of the adjacent exhaust valve chamber, said bores having a diameter greater than the distance between such respective intake and. exhaust valve chamber portions whereby to intersect and establish communication therebetween, an exhaust passage perpendicular to and intersecting said cani shaft bore and opening externally of said valve block, spring seat` cages integral with the top of each Vvalve and comprising an annular portion united to the valve top by circumferentially spaced longitudinal struts to provide fluid ow openings, springs in said chambers having inner ends seated in said cages to urge said valves into fluid sealing engagement with vsaid valve seats, removable spring seats in said chambers engaging the outer ends of said springs, iluid sealing means disposed between the peripheries of said spring seats and the walls of said chambers to form fluid tight seals for the outer ends of said chambers, and a cover plate secured to such one block face and engaging said spring seats to retain the same in luid sealing engagement with said chambers. Y Y

. ALEXANDER V. F'IORE'I'IA` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great. Britain` Apr. 14, 1936 

